Fundraiser for airlifted family member

A family will hold a fundraising night after one of its members was airlifted to hospital by Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS). The Johnston family will host the event at the Conservative Club in Carlisle on May 14 in aid of GNAAS. Kevin Johnston, 58, from Carlisle, was at work when he took a fall which left him with multiple injuries on December 23 last year. Mr Johnston suffered from a spinal fracture, broken ribs and other back injuries in the incident. GNAAS was called to the incident and assessed and treated Mr Johnston before he was flown to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle.

A family will hold a fundraising night after one of its members was airlifted to hospital by Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).

The Johnston family will host the event at the Conservative Club in Carlisleon May 14 in aid of GNAAS.

Kevin Johnston, 58, from Carlisle, was at work when he took a fall which left him with multiple injuries on December 23 last year.

Mr Johnston suffered from a spinal fracture, broken ribs and other back injuries in the incident.

GNAAS was called to the incident and assessed and treated Mr Johnston before he was flown to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle. The flight to the RVI took just 13 minutes. By road this would have taken around one hour and 20 minutes.

Carol-Ann Johnston, Mr Johnston’s daughter, said: “My dad’s accident happened just before Christmas, so Christmas day was definitely not the same.

“I remember having to call my dad in his hospital bed twice that day with him being all the way in Newcastle, it just wasn’t the same.”

Miss Johnston, a 25-year-old retail worker, is and her family will host the fundraising night to raise vital funds for GNAAS.

The night is set to be fun packed with a disco, raffle, buffet and a ukulele band will be playing.

Miss Johnston said: “This is the first time I have fundraised for GNAAS.They helped my dad, so now is my chance to say thanks to them and raise money for a charity that relies on public donations to keep it going.”

Mr Johnston is almost fully recovered from his injuries after his fall.

Mandy Drake, head of fundraising at GNAAS, said: “I would like to wish Kevin a speedy recovery. I hope that the fundraising night goes very well and is enjoyable for everyone involved. The funds raised will help to keep the aircraft operating across the region.”